Pump for blood plasma and the like

ABSTRACT

A pump for plasma and the like is provided suitable for use with but not confined to available plasma containers and with the rate of discharge maintained constant but adjustable over a wide range, the pump being portable and self-contained, with accessibility to the components, and having a fluid transferring spring-impelled piston driving a pressure plate which is manually reset by a handle for each operation. The pump is independent in operation, of temperature, weather conditions, altitude, orientation, and whether it is in motion or at rest.

llited States Patet [72] inventor John Vaden Terry 234 W. Valley ForgeRoad, King of Prussia, Pa. 19406 [21] Appl. No. 878,420

[22] Filed Nov. 20, 1969 [45] Patented Dec. 7, 1971 [54] PUMP FOR BLOODPLASMA AND THE LIKE 8 Claims, 6 Drawing Figs.

[52] US. Cl 222/103, 267/1 14 [51 Int. Cl B67d 35/28 [50] Field ofSearch... 222/103,

[5 6] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2.755967 7/1956 Anderson etal 222/96 2,970,452 2/1961 Beckman et al. ZZZ/386.5 X 3,057,278 4/1970Werding 222/96 X 1,155,981 10/1915 Wiseley.... 267/114 X 2,730,3541/1956 Burris 267/l14 Primary E.\'aminerStanley H. TollbergAnorney-Zachary T. Wobensmith, ll

ABSTRACT: A pump for plasma and the like is provided suitable for usewith but not confined to available plasma containers and with the rateof discharge maintained constant but adjustable over a wide range, thepump being portable and self-contained, with accessibility to thecomponents, and having a fluid transferring spring-impelled pistondriving a pressure plate which is manually reset by a handle for eachopera tion. The pump is independent in operation, of temperature,weather conditions. altitude, orientation and whether it is in motion orat rest.

khaki PATENTED DEC 7 I971 SHEET 1 [1F 2 INVENTOR JOHN V. TERRY ATTORNE'Y PUMP FOR BLOOD PLASMA AND THE LIKE BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION1 Field of the Invention This invention relates to pumps for fluidswhich are particularly suited for blood plasma and the like and moreparticularly to such pumps having an adjustable predetermined deliveryrate.

2. Description of the Prior Art It has heretofore been proposed toprovide self-contained pumps for blood plasma and the like, the patentsto Kralsauer et al., U.S. Pat. No. 3,375,824 and Tomlinson U.S. Pat. No.2,703,084 being illustrative.

The devices heretofore proposed had various shortcomings, includingcomplexity of construction, difficulty of access to components and lackof reliability over a wide range of conditions encountered in use in thefield.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In accordance with the invention a pump forplasma and the like is provided suitable for use with but not confinedto available plasma containers and with the rate of discharge maintainedconstant but variable over a wide range, the pump being portable andself-contained with accessibility to the components, and having a fluidtransferring spring-impelled piston driving a pressure plate which ismanually reset by a handle for each operation. The pump is independent,in operation, of temperature, weather conditions, altitude, orientation,and whether it is in motion or at rest.

It is the principal object of the present invention to provide animproved pump for plasma and the like which can utilize but is notlimited to presently available plasma containers and with which aconstant delivery at a selected flow rate is attained.

It is a further object of the invention to provide a pump for plasma andthe like which is portable and does not require any outside source ofpower so that it can be used and reused in the field.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a pump forplasma and the like which will be free from operating difficulties andwhich can be operated by relatively unskilled persons.

It is further object of the present invention to provide a pump forplasma and the like which can be easily started and stopped and whichcan be easily adjusted for the desired rate of delivery.

Other objects and advantageous features of the invention will beapparent from the description and claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS The nature and characteristic featuresof the invention will be more readily understood from the followingdescription taken in connection with the accompanying drawings formingpart thereof, in which:

FIG. 1 is an external side elevational view of a pump in accordance withthe invention;

FIG. 2 is a vertical sectional view taken approximately on the line 2-2of FIG. 3;

FIG. 3 is a horizontal sectional view taken approximately on the line3-3 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary sectional view, enlarged, showing one end of thepiston rod and the guide therefor;

FIG. 5 is a detail sectional view of the piston rod and guide assembly,and

FIG. 6 is a schematic view showing the fluid connections for the pump.

It should, of course, be understood that the description and drawingsherein are illustrative merely, and that various modifications andchanges can be made in the structure disclosed without departing fromthe spirit of the invention.

Like numerals refer to like parts throughout the several vrews.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring now more particularlyto the drawings in which a preferred embodiment of the invention isillustrated a casing 10 is provided which includes a longitudinal bottomsupport plate 11, to which a one piece housing having vertical sidewalls12 and 113, a stationary vertical end wall 14 and a vertical end closureplate 15 is removably secured by stud bolts (not shown).

An interior transverse vertical support plate 16 affixed to supportplate 11 is provided, in spaced relation to the end closure plate 15. Aninterior transverse vertical support plate 14a is affixed to supportplate 11 in spaced relation to end closure plate 14.

A U-shaped handle 20 is provided extending through the sidewalls l2 and13 and connected to a drum 21 carried by brackets 22 secured to thesupport plate 11. The handle 20 is effective for rotating the drum 21through a predetermined angle as hereinafter explained.

The support plate 16 has a horizontal cylinder 25 secured thereto with apiston 26 therein carried on a piston rod 27. The periphery of thepiston 26 in contact with the interior wall of the cylinder 25 ispreferably provided with a packing 28 which may be an O-ring.

The piston rod 27 extends through a packing 29 in an end wall 30 of thecylinder 25 and is connected to a vertical pressure plate 31 which ismovable within the casing 10 toward and away from the end plate 14a. Asling 32 of elastic material is provided connecting the pressure plate31 and the wall to provide a compartment 3 3 variable in size asdetermined by the movement of the piston rod 27 and confined by thesidewalls 12 and 13.

For the purpose of delivering plasma, a flexible plasma container 35 ofany desired type and of adequate strength is provided, the structurebeing particularly suitable for use with the well known Fenwal BloodPak. The container 35 has a delivery tube 36.

The pressure plate 31 on a bottom side has flexible cable 37 securedthereto and extending to and secured to the drum 21 and flexible cable38 secured thereto on a top side and extending over guide pulley 39 tothe drum 21 to which they are secured. Rotation of the drum 21 by thehandle 20 tends to retract the pressure plate 31 and move it away fromthe wall 14a. Braces 32 may be provided connecting the wall 14a and thesupport plate 16.

A compression spring 40 within the cylinder 25 and bearing on the piston26 and an end wall 41 of the cylinder 25 urges the piston rod 27 and thepressure plate 31 in a direction to compress the plasma container 35.

In order to control the movement of the piston 26 a fluid system isprovided which includes a fluid connection 43 to the cylinder 25 whichis connected through a manually adjustable control valve 44, through aflow controller 45, and a manually operable stop valve 46 in a fluidconnection 47 extending to the other end of the cylinder 25. The controlvalve 44 has an exteriorly accessible manual operating handle 48 and thestop valve 46 has an exteriorly accessible manual operating handle 49.

The flow controller 45 can be of any desired type which will maintain aconstant differential pressure across the control valve 44. A suitableflow controller for this purpose, is available from Moore Products Co.,Spring House, Pa. and is illustrated in U.S. Pat. No. 2,627,281.

A fluid bypass connection 50 is provided, connecting the fluidconnections 43 and 47 with a nonreturn or check valve 51 thereinpermitting flow of fluid from the fluid connection 43 to the fluidconnector 47 but not permitting flow in the opposite direction, suchflow in the opposite direction being through the flow controller 45 asdetermined by the valves 44 and 46.

The handle 48 of the control valve 44 is on a valve stem 53 whichcarries a pulley 54. The pulley 54 is connected by a cable 55, to apulley 56 on the shaft 57 of a flow indicator 58.

The piston rod 27. as shown in detail in FIG. 5 has a hollow extension60 which is engaged in a guide 61, secured to the cylinder wall 41. Theguide 61 is provided with an orifice 62 which is of a predetermined sizeto prevent fluid flow into the interior of the guide at an excessiverate. The rate of flow for plasma pumping in a particular embodiment isnot in excess of l03.5 ml. per minute. The guide 61 also carries a checkvalve 63 which permits more rapid discharge upon movement of the handle20 for cocking.

The fluid system which includes the cylinder 25, fluid connectors 43, 47and 50, the flow controller 45 and the valves 44 and 46 is preferablyliquid filled, with a liquid such as alcohol, ethyleneglycol or lightoil which will not freeze and which will be effective over a wide rangeof atmospheric temperatures, frigid as well as tropical, as required.

The mode of operation will now be pointed out.

in order to deliver plasma from the plasma container 35 through thedelivery tube which in a preferred embodiment is in the range from 1.08ml. per minute (8 hours per charge) to l03.5 ml. per minute (5 minutesper charge), the handle 20 is moved from the upright solid line positionshown in FIG. 1 to the dotted position.

Movement of the handle 20 through the are indicated is effective to windthe cables 37 and 38 onto the drum 21 and move the pressure plate 31away from the wall 14a so that a previously emptied container 35 can beremoved and full container 35 inserted in the compartment 33.

With stop valve 46 closed, the pressure plate 31 is moved by the cables37 and 38, the spring 40 is compressed by movement of the piston 26, andfluid at the spring side of the piston 26 is forced through the fluidconnection 43, the bypass connection 50 and check valve 51 through thefluid connection 47 to the opposite side of the piston 26. As thisoccurs fluid in the guide 61 and extension 60 is discharged through thecheck valve 63.

As the spring 40 now urges the piston 26 and the pressure plate 31 tocompress the container 35 in the compartment 33 the stop valve 46 isopened and the control valve 44 is positioned in accordance with therate of flow desired. This setting of the valve 44 and the rate of flowwill be indicated at the flow indicator 58 and will be maintained by theflow controller 45 is as determined by the setting of the control valve.

The size of the orifice 62 provides an upper limit on the movement ofthe piston 26 and the displacement of fluid by such movement.

Upon completion of the compressing movement of the pressure plate 31,the pressure plate 31 can be retracted by closure of valve 46 and bypositive movement of the handle 20, full movement being affected ifanother plasma container 35 is to be inserted in the compartment 33 foruse.

The handle 20, in addition to its purpose of cocking the apparatus forinitiation of delivery also serves as a carrying handle if desired. Aforce of approximately pounds will supply the desired positioning of thepiston 26.

The pump is use will maintain the desired constant flow rate of plasmaas established by the positioning of valve 44 and without furtheradjustment even though the pump is relocated to as much as 4 feet belowthe plasma recipient, or relocated above the recipient, or placed on thesame level as the recipient, or if the pump and recipient are intransport at varying barometric pressures.

It will thus be seen that apparatus has been provided for effecting theobjects of the invention.

lclaim: 1. Apparatus for delivering fluent materials from a disposableflexible fluid container comprising a casing having a fixed wall and apressure applying plate member movable with respect to said wall andproviding with said wall a compartment for the retention of a disposableflexible fluid container, manually operable means for positioning saidpressure applying plate member spaced from said wall in a set positionfor actuation, and means for controlling the movement of said pressureapplying plate member at a predetermined constant rate from its setposition toward said wall for affecting delivery of fluid from saidcontainer, said means for controlling said movement including acylinder, a movable member in said cylinder connected to said pressureapplying plate member, and A closed fluid circuit comprising fluidconnections between the opposite ends of said cylinder, and members forcontrolling the flow through said fluid connections. 2. Apparatus asdefined in claim 1 in which said last-mentioned members include a fluidflow controller. 3. Apparatus as defined in claim 2 in which saidlast-mentioned members include a manually settable valve across which aconstant differential pressure is maintained by said flow controller. 4.Apparatus as defined in claim 1 in which said means for controllingincludes a resilient member having force stored therein by movement ofsaid means for positioning. 5. Apparatus as defined in claim 4 in whichsaid movable member in said cylinder is a piston, and said resilientmember is disposed in said cylinder and in engagement with said piston.6. Apparatus as defined in claim 1 in which said flow controllingmembers have a bypassing fluid circuit therein, permitting movement forpositioning. 7. Apparatus as defined in claim 1 in which said meansother than said means for positioning are mounted in casing, and saidmeans for positioning includes a handle exteriorly accessible foractuation. 8. Apparatus as defined in claim 7 in which said handle isconnected to a drum, and flexible members are connected to said drum andto said pressure applying member for moving said pressure applyingmember to said set position.

8 t i I?

1. Apparatus for delivering fluent materials from a disposable flexiblefluid container comprising a casing having a fixed wall and a pressureapplying plate member movable with respect to said wall and providingwith said wall a compartment for the retention of a disposable flexiblefluid container, manually operable means for positioning said pressureapplying plate member spaced from said wall in a set position foractuation, and means for controlling the movement of said pressureapplying plate member at a predetermined constant rate from its setposition toward said wall for affecting delivery of fluid from saidcontainer, said means for controlling said movement including acylinder, a movable member in said cylinder connected to said pressureapplying plate member, and a closed fluid circuit comprising fluidconnections between the opposite ends of said cylinder, and members forcontrolling the flow through said fluid connections.
 2. Apparatus asdefined in claim 1 in which said last-mentioned members include a fluidflow controller.
 3. Apparatus as defined in claim 2 in which saidlast-mentioned members include a manually settable valve across which aconstant differential pressure is maintained by said flow controller. 4.Apparatus as defined in claim 1 in which said means for controllingincludes a resilient member having force stored therein by movement ofsaid means for positioning.
 5. Apparatus as defined in claim 4 in whichsaid movable member in said cylinder is a piston, and said resilientmember is disposed in said cylinder and in engagement with said piston.6. Apparatus as defined in claim 1 in which said flow controllingmembers have a bypassing fluid circuit therein, permitting movement forpositioning.
 7. Apparatus as defined in claim 1 in which said meansother than said means for positioning are mounted in casing, and saidmeans for positioning includes a handle exteriorly accessible foractuation.
 8. Apparatus as defined in claim 7 in which said handle isconnected to a drum, and flexible members are connected to said drum andto said pressure applying member for moving said pressure applyingmember to said set position.